Creation: Facts & Truth

Sermon 09/08/13

As we finish out our year on the narrative lectionary. We will be moving through some of the great narratives of the Old Testament; moving from Creation, through the Davidic kingship to the apocalyptic literature of Daniel. Something new we are trying for the fall is offering the opportunity for conversation around the narratives and the sermon. Links will placed on the church Facebook page to my blog and you are more than welcome to post any comments, questions or insights you have around the biblical text or what I say here. If you are more the pen and paper type than please feel free to write questions, comments etc. on your attendance sheet and place them in the offering plate as normal. Please include your name as otherwise I will not be able to respond. If you rather simply sit, listen and hear what is said, than by all means do that. Participation is not compulsory but rather offered...except for you confirmands, you have no choice. So with that let us look at our Creation narrative.

This story remains one of the most important in the bible because it deals with our origins. Now, the whole book of Genesis is a book of beginnings but this creation is THE beginning and thus holds a primary place. It is a story of identity about who we are and whose we are and identity is one of the key components for us as human beings. A person who does not know who they are and where they belong is one trapped in an identity crisis. So our creation stories, personal and corporate, are something we hold dear because they help to give us that identity. Much has also been made about the facts of this story, particularly in the last 150 years with the rise of modern science, the theory of evolution, natural selection, modern biology, genetics and in short our explorations out into space and into our own biology. This division has arisen helped along by leaders in the church and world around whether you believe the biblical facts or the scientific facts as we understand them.

For the sake of time, let me offer what is an admittedly simplified version of the "facts". The facts of the biblical narrative put forth by creationist, particularly young earth creationists is that the earth was created in six literal days, God resting on the 7th, and that the timeline offered in Genesis and elsewhere is perfectly accurate and thus the earth is somewhere between 6,000-7,000 years old. The facts of science, and again this oversimplified is that about 14 billion years ago the universe exploded outward, about 4.5 billion years ago our planet formed in our solar system, about 60 million years ago you have the emergence of primates, about 200,000 years ago you have what are physically at least humans or Homosapiens. About 5,000-6,000 years ago we have the beginnings of recorded history. Or for an even simpler explanation....

Now some folks will say that these two sets of facts are completely incompatible and you have to choose one or face heresy or ignorance. Others say that no, in a lot of ways these views coincide nicely. They both for example point to the Fertile Crescent area of the world as the beginnings of humanity; they both have this progressive view of the creation from the creation of the earth, to simpler life forms, to the very good or most advanced result of humanity. And well, we can go on, but frankly, you have probably heard this already and if you haven't, all the better. Too much are made of the facts, of biblical historicity and the beloved cage match like phrase "science vs. religion." 

It's not to say the facts don't matter they do, but on the biblical side of things we Christians often miss the forest for the trees. Our bible is not a history book and not a science book, nor has it ever pretended to be. It is the word of God and the story of God and his relationship with God's people. In particular we Christians hold that the bible is where we find the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, to paraphrase Luther, we should read the whole bible from beginning to end, asking where is the Good news? or where is Jesus? We look to scripture not as a set of facts to prop up our worldview but truth to transform our world. We look for that truth that John, later in his Gospel says will set us free and we look for truth that helps gives us identity and purpose for the lives we live. The good news is; That truth is here in the story of Genesis if we can get past the debate on facts.

So, let me say, as a called and ordained pastor in the church serving here at Unity, your view on the method of creation is not important for your salvation or your legitimacy as a Christian. If you believe in the biblical narrative as written, good, you are free to trust in that. If you believe in the facts put forth by science that's good, you are free to trust in that. I don't need you to leave your heart or head at home when you come to church and I don't need us to agree on the facts, what we need here is this place is to hear the truth and be set free by the Gospel. What we need is to believe in the promises of God found most assuredly in Jesus Christ So here are three truths that I think matter most in the creation story, three truths that reveal the Gospel and if you are confirmand, three truths you might want to write down in your sermon notes, just a suggestion.

Truth 1: God Creates

Now, as I said, the method of creation is negotiable as is the time it took, but whether you believe in seven days of creation or the big bang theory, we need to recognize who is behind it all. You are free to believe in natural selection as long as you hold that is God steering the process and bring us to this point. In all our creeds we hold that God is the creator or heaven and earth even if we do not mention how God did it. This is good news because it means that we are a people made and chosen not a random collection of protons, neutrons and electrons. You are not simply result of a genetic lottery based on your heritage you are a child of God, a creation of the Almighty, which means you have intrinsic worth, you deserve basic respect and you are no accident. Christ hung on the cross because of creation because God made us, all of us and was not willing to cast us aside. In fact God loves us and since the beginning has said our second truth.

Truth 2: Creation is Good.

Read the text again, six times God says it is good, and after creating humanity God says it is very good! This means from the smallest weed that plagues your garden to the sequoias of California, it is good. From the smallest animal to the blue whale, it is good. From your loved ones and neighbors to those you name as enemies, from saints of the world to those living in the darkest depths of evil and sin, they are very good. This is good news for those of us who have been told we missed the boat on beauty and worldly standards of perfection. For those who have been told they are ugly, or broken or incomplete, malformed or not really a whole person, to hear unequivocally, as you are, you are not just good but very good is soothing relief to old wound and new wounds alike. For those who have been told you are too fat, too dumb, too old, too young, too slow, too weak, and just beyond help, it is a message of hope and acceptance that can bring new life and transformation. We in the church should be in the business of challenging folks, but we should also remind them at least twice as often that they are very good, no matter what because that is how God made them. Finally we come to our last truth

Truth 3: God is still creating

One the great unofficial heresies of the church is that things started out perfect and since the fall have deteriorated and that the world will continue to go downhill better till Christ returns in the fullness of time. Every time you hear complaints about kids music, their clothes, their rudeness, etc, you here the liturgy of this heresy. This view is not wrong because the world is getting better all the time, things go in cycles actually and some things get better and some things get worse, it is heresy because it suggest God has abandoned us till the end and that is simply not truth. God is here, with us still creating each and everyday. God creates new people, new communities, new people, new businesses, new relationships, new everything all the time! We believe that when people come to the waters of baptism they are a new creation, we trust that the Spirit is renewing us day by day. We read when Jesus says, "Go your faith has made you well" or "Come and follow me" another story of creation. God created yes, but he didn't stop on the seventh day and God does not sit from afar saying, "I'll be back someday to fix that mess called earth." We believe that God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is, to borrow the ELCA's anniversary phrase, continually making all things new and that even on the cross, Christ was creating a place, a permanent place for sinners like you and me.

So embrace the truth, not mere facts. The truth that God created you, that you and the rest of creation are good, and that creation continues. Because that good news will give you identity and purpose, it will give you hope for the future. It is this good news, found from Genesis to Revelation that I urge you all to hold onto. Because the Gospel truth will create new life and renew your Spirit, truth will bring salvation and identity and truth will set you free to live life fully in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you have questions, comments about the sermon you heard on Sunday or what you read here today, please feel free to comment below or on Unity's Facebook page.

P.S.: I have not written out sermons since seminary. So if the grammar is off or if you heard the sermon live and it was different, well it may take a couple weeks to shake off the rust. Thanks for understanding!